Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Bend Magazine's The Circling Podcast, I'm joined by Bend Magazine founders Heather and Ross Johnson and our friend and neighbor Gerry Lopez, the recipient of the third annual Bend Magazine Soul of Central Oregon Award, to talk about the kind of influence you can’t measure with job titles or headlines. We dig into the origin story of Bend Magazine, then Gerry shares what brought him from Maui to Bend more than 30 years ago, the Oregon kindness that su...
Jul 24
1 hr 19 min
Send us Fan Mail We’re recording outdoors at Smith Rock State Park in a coproduction with StoryBooth, and the setting fits the story: Oregon Outdoor Alliance was built by people who wanted the outdoor industry to feel as connected as the places we all love to be. We talk with founders Gary Bracelin and Van Schoessler about what Bend looked like when industry talent felt scattered, the recession made growth feel uncertain, and “community” was more wish than reality. Van and Gary walk us throu...
Apr 22
56 min
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Mike Ranquet in Bend, Oregon and trace the whole arc, from that first childhood feeling of rolling on four wheels to moving to Bend in 1987 with Craig Kelly and the responsibility Craig modeled behind the scenes. Mike tells the truth about addiction patterns that “turn a corner,” why rock bottom can have a trapdoor, and what it’s like to face emotions you never learned to process. We also dig into dopamine and compulsion beyond alcohol, including gambling and...
Apr 14
1 hr 27 min
Send us Fan Mail A snowboarding contest that runs like a surf heat shouldn’t work this well, but the Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge at Mt Bachelor has become a Bend, Oregon staple for a reason. The stoke is real, the course is custom every year, and the whole thing feels more like a skatepark jam than a rulebook competition. When you add Hawaiian food, reggae on the deck, and a lift line full of groms, pros, and proud “kooks,” you start to understand why people plan their season around it.&nb...
Mar 23
1 hr 13 min
Send us Fan Mail Join host Adam Short as he sits down with Gerry Lopez and Anne DosPassos to tell the origin story of the Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge and how Aloha isn't just something you say; it's something you practice. From naming wind lips after beloved breaks to shaping courses that move with rhythm and flow, the tradition holds tight to family, fun, and creativity over results. You’ll hear how the event came alive when builders decided to make waves out of snow, transfo...
Mar 1
38 min
Send us Fan Mail A lot of development has happened since this episode was recorded, but what if the most valuable thing you make isn’t content or code—but trust? We open the door to Storybooth’s origin story, from a chance conversation at hot springs to a sold‑out Seattle wedding where a glass-walled “podcast booth” became the night’s most crowded corner. This is a founder’s-eye view of creating a new category: an experience that captures honest speech, family history, and the feelings that p...
Oct 21, 2025
1 hr 42 min
Send us Fan Mail Your eyes know when your brain is fading—and that tiny lag can cost a run, a rep, or a line of code. We sit down with Jak and Sanjay Green, the father–son team behind Eyeonize, a caffeinated, mentholated under‑eye balm built to cool, hydrate, and wake you up without another cup or can. What started with a gaming industry shock, grew into a product designed for anyone who stares, rides, studies, or drives for long stretches and needs clarity on demand. This is a story about ...
Oct 13, 2025
1 hr 25 min
Send us Fan Mail What if convenience food didn’t feel like a compromise? We sit down with Howl at the Spoon founder Melanie Jenkinson, a former creative director who traded pitch decks for real ingredients, to unpack how healthy convenient options can change the way we eat. From backcountry meals to office lunches, Melanie shows why right-sized portions beat the clutter and waste of old-school bottles—and why a sauce that expires in weeks is a good thing. The conversation traces a winding pa...
Oct 7, 2025
1 hr 30 min
Send us Fan Mail What if extra sleep at the trailhead didn’t cost thousands or require a rooftop crane? We sit down with Kai Nevers and Kate Raber, the duo behind Wanderhut, to tell the story of a hatchback tent that deploys the moment you open your rear door—adding headroom, real ventilation, and bug-proof comfort without the hassle of pitching a tent in the dark. Born as a taped-up class project and validated by a stranger in a Home Depot parking lot, their design carries a simple promise: ...
Sep 30, 2025
1 hr 19 min
Send us Fan Mail When cold hands meet cold beverages in the outdoor community of Bend, Oregon, something magical happens – the Giddy Up Glove is born. Sherrise Erlandson's entrepreneurial journey bridges her past and present, weaving together childhood lessons from Minnesota flea markets with a passion for creativity and connection. "Connection is kind of my focus," Sherrise explains, revealing the heart of her brand. "With the Giddy Up Glove, it's connection between people, connection to th...
Sep 24, 2025
1 hr 14 min
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